The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-03
COMMERCE ON THE RAIL.
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
COMMISSION.

Results of the Year.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The first annual
report of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has been laid before the Secretary of
the Interior for transmission to Congress-
1t is a printed document of forty three
pages, exclusive of the tabular appendices
The commission has as yet no statistics of
its own collection to lay before the public,
but adopting those of a manual generally
accepted as reliable, it states the total rail
road mileage at tho close of 1886 at 133, COG
miles and estimates that 1850 miles have
since been added, making 1856 miles
divided among 1900 railroads, operated by
500 interpretations, which are subject to the
provisions of the act creating the commits
sion.
THE EXPRESS COMPANIES.
The commission, after the hearing of all
the arguments advanced by those who ap-
peared for the express companies, is of the
opinion that express business, so far as it is
| done by the railroad companies themselves,
| whether directly, and by their managing
officers or indirectly and through nominal
corporations created for the purpose, is
within the act, and that such companies are
under obligation to see that the tariffs are
filed, and that the rules of fairness and
equality which the act prescribes are OBJ
served. Whether express companies which
are independent of railroads are within con-
temptation of the act is more doubtful. The
commission is of the opinion that the ques-
ton is one which Congress ought to put
beyond question by either expressly and by
designation including express companies, or
by excluding them. These observations
| also apply to miscellaneous corporations
engaged in the transportation of oil, live
stock, furnishing extra accommodations to
passengers, etc.
CONFORMING THE FREIGHT RATES.
Reviewing the railway operations during
the period which has elapsed since the act
took effect the Commission feels warranted
in saying that while less has been done in
the direction of bringing freight tariffs into
conformity with the general rule prescribed
by the fourth section than some persons
perhaps expected, there has, nevertheless,
been gratifying advance in that direction,
and there is every reason to believe that
this will continue. That substantial bene-
fits will flow from making the rule
as general as shall be found practicable can
not be doubted; and even when the circum-
stances and conditions of long and short
haul traffic are dissimilar, the desirability
of avoiding any considerable disparity in
charges is great and obvious. So far,
therefore, and so fast as business prudence
and proper regard for the inter
ests of the communities which
would be disturbed and injured
by precipitate changes will admit of, it is
being done. Such railroad companies as do
not now conform to the statutory rule
should make their rates on these two classes
of traffic more obviously just and more
proportional than they have hitherto been
or now are
MORE CLERKS WANTED.
In dealing with the subject of tie filing
and publication of tariffs the commission
says the clerical force of the commission is
too small Some idea of the labor that has
devolved upon this clerical force may be
formed when it is known that as near as
can now be estimated 10000 books,
papers, and documents showing
rates, fares and charges for trans
portation and contracts, agreements,
or arrangements between carriers
in relation to interstate traffic have been
filed in the office of the commission, all of
which required appropriate classification
and systematic arrangement. 1t has been
quite impossible to do more with these than
to acknowledge their receipt classify and
index them, and put them in order
for reference. The organization of general
system upon which they might most use
fully be made has not been attempted, nor
even any systematic investigation of their
contents for the purpose of observing to
what extent the provisions of the act to
regulate commerce is complied with in their
preparation.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
Under the he ad of general observations
the commission says: 1.-The act to regulate
commerce has now been in operation
nearly eight months. One immediate
effect was to cause inconvenience in many
quarters, and even yet the business of some
parts of the country is not fully adjusted to
it. Some carriers also are not as yet in
their operations conforming in all respects
to its spirit and purpose. Nevertheless the
commission feels justified in saying
that the operation of the act
has in general been beneficial. In
some particulars, as we understand has also
been the case with similar statutes in some
of the States, it has operated directly
to increase railroad earnings, especially in
the cutting off of free passes on interstate
passenger traffic, and in putting an end to
rebates, drawbacks and special rates upon
freight business The results of the law in
these respects are also eminently satisfac-
tory to the general public, certainly to all
who had not been won't to profit
by special or personal advantages. In CON
nection with the abolition of the pass sys-
tenn there has been some reduction in pas
senger fares, especially in the charge made
for mileage tickets in the Northwest, a sec
ton of country where they are perhaps
most employed.
INCREASED FREIGHT TRAFFIC.
"The freight traffic for the year has been
exceptionally large in volume, and is be
lieved to have been in no small degree
stimulated by growing confidence that the
days OF rebates and special rates
were ended, and that open rates on
an equal basis were now offered to all
comers. The reflex action of this develop
ment of confidence among business men has
been highly favorable to the roads. In
some localities the passage of the act was
made the occasion on the part of dissatisfied
and short sighted railroad managers for
new exactions, through the direct raising of
rates, by changes in classification
and otherwise The manifestation of
the spirit which induced such action is
now but seldom observed, and the wrongs
resulting from it have, in general, been cor
rected In regard to the fourth section the
commission repeats in this place its opinion
that however serious may have been the re-
suits in some cases the general effect has
been beneficial.
CLASSIFICATION MORE UNIFORM.
"The changes in classification made since
the act took effect have been in the direc-
tion of greater uniformity, and have, also
in general, it is believed, been concessions to
business interests The tendency Of
rates has been downward, and
thev ha.-a seldom been fefunanently